The director of the Department of Taxes and his heart surgery

Hernandez · Mar 29, 2011

I have read this in the news today:

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Juan Hernandez back to the DGII

The director of the Department of Taxes (DGII), Juan Hernandez, is expected to return to his post as of May. Hernandez underwent a heart transplant at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston in August 2010. Diario Libre reports that a trusted source indicated Hernandez was back in the DR and would return to his job gradually, hoping to be fully up to speed by May. DGII deputy director Germania Montas has been serving as acting director in his absence.
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Who paid for the surgery? I believe his official salary is not enough for that. Health insurance? I don't believe. So, it sounds like the guy stole a lot of money from taxpayers, but now he had spent everything for the surgery, so he wants to come back to his job to steal again?

Why all those Big Guys have their surgeries performed in the US, not here in CEDIMAT? And who pays for that?

Robert · Mar 29, 2011

Maybe he holds a USA passport? Maybe he has International insurance?

Do you have proof he stole money?
Do you have proof he doesn't have insurance?

Where would you rather have a transplant if you had a choice?

Hernandez · Mar 29, 2011

Robert said:
Do you have proof he stole money?

Of course, he did not steal any taxpayer's money and did not accept any bribes. They are honest to God persons.

I was just kidding.

Robert said:
Where would you rather have a transplant if you had a choice?

Well, did you ever hear about poor guy from the barrio had a surgery in the US? And what happens if there is no transplant for a poor guy in DR?

Could you please suggest me a Health Insurance Plan that covers this type of surgeries in the US? Is there any? Or, maybe some companies in the US offer such plans for Dominican Citizens?

Dominicans must think someday, why some of them don't have any basic medical services, but Government Officials have the heart transplant surgeries in the US the same time. It's so sad that even in Egypt and in Tunisia people care more about their rights. That's why this country will continue being like this forever.

Robert · Mar 29, 2011

ARS Humano have international plans that cover transplants.
They cover up to US$2 million per year and US$500,000 for organ transplants for their Platinum Plan, US$300,000 if you have an Executive Plan.

Mass General in Boston is one of their affiliated hospitals for Cardiology issues, transplants etc.

As a head of a Government dept, this type if health plan is pretty normal.
I'm sure they get pretty good group rates at ARS Humano, being as the Government has so many employees.

People around the planet cannot get decent health care, it's not a DR phenomenon.
At least here if I want to see a specialist, get an MRI etc, it's fast (same day) and cheap.
No 3 month wait for an appointment, no going through 2-3 people for a referral etc.

Hernandez · Mar 29, 2011

Robert said:
As a head of a Government dept, this type if health plan is pretty normal.

That's normal if Government spend taxpayer's money for something else too, not only for themselves, their toys and for treatment of their hemorrhoids in the US.

Robert · Mar 29, 2011

I think you'll find that insurance plans like this are pretty standard here for executive jobs.

Personally I think Hernandez has done an excellent job with the DGII.
It's one of the most advanced, modern and efficient Government Dept's.
That's maybe not a good thing for some, but it's working and very good at collecting taxes.

I haven't heard any rumors of corruption thrown at Hernandez, have you?
You cannot blame him for how his bosses spend tax payers money.

Hernandez · Mar 29, 2011

Robert said:
I haven't heard any rumors of corruption thrown at Hernandez, have you?
You cannot blame him for how his bosses spend tax payers money.

Do I need any rumors of corruption if I see all those new Tahoes and Land Cruisers with Government license plates in front of their office? I'll believe there's no corruption if they start to use Toyota Corolla and Ford Focus, and make their surgeries performed in Plaza de la Salud with the same doctors as their taxpayers do.

ExtremeR · Mar 30, 2011

Hernandez said:
Well, did you ever hear about poor guy from the barrio had a surgery in the US? And what happens if there is no transplant for a poor guy in DR?

So you solution is because a poor tiguere from a barrio cannot have heart surgery we should let one of the DR's top minister die because is the moral right thing to do?? BTW those guys have an awesome International Health Insurance plan, everything covered.

Hernandez · Mar 30, 2011

ExtremeR said:
BTW those guys have an awesome International Health Insurance plan, everything covered.

How much that plan costs for one person per year? That's taxpayer's money again, and your money too (as I understand, you are Dominican). Can you afford such plan for yourself? But they can and they do it using your money.

ExtremeR · Mar 30, 2011

Hernandez said:
How much that plan costs for one person per year? That's taxpayer's money again, and your money too (as I understand, you are Dominican). Can you afford such plan for yourself? But they can and they do it using your money.

So you suggest a communist country? That's the only way you can get away with not paying competitive executive salaries and perks. Remember the role of the ministers are to run a efficient department, not to be as poor as his maid. If that's what you want you are suggesting a communist society.

Robert · Mar 30, 2011

Hernandez said:
Do I need any rumors of corruption if I see all those new Tahoes and Land Cruisers with Government license plates in front of their office? I'll believe there's no corruption if they start to use Toyota Corolla and Ford Focus, and make their surgeries performed in Plaza de la Salud with the same doctors as their taxpayers do.

Why tar everyone with the same brush?

I have already told you that as far as I'm aware he has not had any allegations of corruption thrown at him and that he has done an excellent job at the DGII. I just with more Government employees had the same track record.

Most Dominicans I know wish him well as they know he's known to be one of the "good" guys.

Maybe CEDIMAT or Plaza Salud couldn't handle his particular case for various medical reasons. Did you ever consider that?

If it makes you feel better, I heard his interview went something like this...

Yes Mr. President, I'm happy to look after the DGII, work my balls off, help make it into a model institution. But..... My conditions are, no jeepeta, crap medical insurance as you know I have a doggy ticker. If I ever need a transplant, please make sure they treat me at Plaza Salud, even if for some reason they cannot treat my condition.

Sorry Juan, we cannot bow to your outrageous demands, you're going to have to accept the package everyone else at your level gets.

Sounds ridiculous right?

Hernandez · Mar 30, 2011

ExtremeR said:
Remember the role of the ministers are to run a efficient department, not to be as poor as his maid.

The only efficient department is the tax collecting department, right? What other department is efficient? Police? Army (border security)? Customs? DNCD? ADN (the garbage is still on the streets)? CDEEE? Potable water? Anything else? There is NOTHING efficient in this country except tax collecting, and everybody knows that. But all of the ministers have that kind of extremely expensive health insurance paid by taxpayers money. Ex–minister of Policia and Interior had his heart surgery in Miami as I remember. Is his department efficient? Does he deserve that right? Or maybe he should be visiting local hospitals as all taxpayers do?

Robert · Mar 30, 2011

Hernandez said:
The only efficient department is the tax collecting department, right? What other department is efficient? Police? Army (border security)? Customs? DNCD? ADN (the garbage is still on the streets)? CDEEE? Potable water? Anything else? There is NOTHING efficient in this country except tax collecting, and everybody knows that. But all of the ministers have that kind of extremely expensive health insurance paid by taxpayers money. Ex?minister of Policia and Interior had his heart surgery in Miami as I remember. Is his department efficient? Does he deserve that right? Or maybe he should be visiting local hospitals as all taxpayers do?

I think is pretty clear that I have ONLY been referring to Juan Hernandez and his particular case, as that is the person you referred to in your OP.

If you NOW want to start talking about other ministers and employees in the Government, thats a different story. I agree with you, many of them are useless and don't even deserve a Toyota Corolla, let alone medical insurance covered by tax payers.

Hernandez · Mar 30, 2011

Robert said:
Most Dominicans I know wish him well as they know he's known to be one of the "good" guys.

You just forgot to say that most Dominicans love to pay taxes and always declare everything up the last penny.

Hernandez · Mar 30, 2011

Robert said:
If you NOW want to start talking about other ministers and employees in the Government, thats a different story.

Well, I was talking about him just for example. He is not the first Government official who had a surgery in the US while the same Government says that we have all the modern medical equipment here at CEDIMAT. So what's the difference, if it was Juan Hernandez or somebody else? Ok, he is a Good Guy (may be), next time a Bad Guy will have the same treatment for taxpayer's money. That's The System, not just particular case.

ExtremeR · Mar 30, 2011

Hernandez said:
Well, I was talking about him just for example. He is not the first Government official who had a surgery in the US while the same Government says that we have all the modern medical equipment here at CEDIMAT. So what's the difference, if it was Juan Hernandez or somebody else? Ok, he is a Good Guy (may be), next time a Bad Guy will have the same treatment for taxpayer's money. That's The System, not just particular case.

It is better to let them die right?? you're delusional...

Hernandez · Mar 30, 2011

ExtremeR said:
It is better to let them die right?? you're delusional...

It's better to give them the same treatment as their taxpayers and voters get in hospitals here.

PICHARDO · Mar 30, 2011

Hernandez said:
It's better to give them the same treatment as their taxpayers and voters get in hospitals here.

Spoken as a true PRD patriot out for blood! LOL!!!

The reason he got treated in the US and not here had nothing to do with the services available for him and the population of the DR, but with the particular spare part he needed exchanged...

The insurance afforded to top executives in gov, allows these workers to get top notch service in the best and worst of situations.

That's all!

SKing · Mar 30, 2011

Hopefully he is ciudadano americano because there has been outrage previously with American organs being given to non Americans when there are so many Americans on transplant waiting lists. I am not on the heart team in the OR but I have been part of kidney and lung transplants and the nurse is the one who charts everything and believe me......it is costly. Actually, the word costly is an understatement

SHALENA

Hipocrito Mejia · Mar 30, 2011

It is not uncommon for many Dominicans, from upper middle class and higher, to have health insurance plans that provide coverage at international facilities. The fact that this particular man is a government official, and has better coverage than the general population, is on par with most countries around the world. Even I, who despise the current government thieves, can't find fault on this one.

I happen to have what would be considered excellent health coverage in the US, but I'm sure that it's not even close to what my congressman or senator has. It's just part of the game!

The director of the Department of Taxes and his heart surgery

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